Affiliations: Social Security Administration, Baltimore, MD,
USA | Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., Washington, DC,
USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Jeffrey Hemmeter, Social Security
Administration, 6401 Security Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21235, USA. Tel.: +1 410 597
1815; Fax: +1 410 597 0825; E-mail: jeffrey.hemmeter@ssa.gov
Abstract: This paper provides an analysis of the dynamics of the transition of
child Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients into adulthood using linked
2001–2002 National Survey of SSI Children and Families (NSCF) survey and
Social Security Administration (SSA) administrative data. We examine the
interaction of impairment status, reported health needs, and other
self-reported indicators of human capital on SSI program and employment
outcomes after age 18. Our primary objective is to examine the differences in
pre-age-18 individual characteristics across subgroups of recipients by
impairment status and determine whether these differences influence post-age-18
SSI participation and employment outcomes. We find that after controlling for
measures of disability severity, duration, and human capital, youth with
behavioral disorders and mental disorders other than mental retardation are
much less likely to receive SSI at age 19. The findings also suggest that
non-health factors, particularly education, employment, and social indicators,
play an important role in the probability of a child SSI recipient being on
adult SSI after age 18. Our findings indicate that, while some youth appear to
be making a successful transition from child SSI benefits to adult benefits or
other activities (off of SSI), others appear to have limited prospects for
long-term self-sufficiency. A major concern is that some youth no longer on SSI
after age 18, particularly those with behavioral disorders and mental disorders
other than mental retardation, may not have been sufficiently prepared for life
without SSI.
Keywords: Supplemental Security Income, SSI, transition, youth, disabilities, social security, SSA, age 18 redetermination, National Survey of SSI Children and Families (NSCF)
